Is there still evidence the booster does not do anything beyond preventing hospitalization and death? (Not anecdotally.) My husband said he thought we now need to pay for this. I am NOT in the know. Thanks!

My son learns hapkido in his TKD class, and that could be useful. Some studios do teach self-defense classes privately or for groups. It’s a tool in your kit. Even in my son’s class, they acknowledge that some situations are more difficult than others to use self defense. I had to be there, but I could see this as a cynical viewpoint rather something else. Or he’s a doofus.

Thanks very much! I do think he should be able to look back. The CM approach seems to want narrations after a single, attentive reading. I understand why, but I wonder if for kids who struggle if the rules should be bent so-to-speak as his issue isn’t just attention-based.

I wondered if you ladies would know. I decided to look into another testing path through our special education office. The psychologist said that in Illinois, we fall under the umbrella of private education, so we are not eligible for services. Is that typical? I am not terribly upset but thought it might be a better route than what we currently have in place before I go the private route.

When I was younger, it was much easier to spend hundreds on my hair. I have never truly dyed it yet, but I did start to use a glaze with color. It is much like dying, but it only lasts a week. I think it is a good way to start or enhance your natural color. My next step will be something semi permanent. My hair budget goes to my Dysport (botox) fund. ha ha

My husband farms, so certain seasons have him working long hours all seven days of the week. He also wants me to be in standby to help, but it’s very hard with four kids at times. I hate fall and spring! But this too shall pass… if there are ways to make life easier while he is gone, do it.

Yes. And your health is everything. My father is dealing with the consequences of a lifetime of smoking---cancer treatments and surgeries wrecked his body. It is not pretty.

Oh I do hope my son will become more studious! I am still thinking about a good writing program for him. Fortunately, the activities he does outside of school work could be much worse. He has fish and crawdad habitats, and now he has aspirations to breed fish. We are not entirely thrilled about that, but I am sure he has learned a great deal through his research on how to do this all.

Might I add that, at least from my experience, these types of jobs are not exactly lucrative. I left social services because I felt the culture was to be a martyr in too many ways.

Yes, I am pretty certain that is the law in Illinois. I could double check, but he isn't ready for that, either. Unfortunately, I am taking my daughter to various activities in various parts of the state, and I think once we'd drop her off for anything, get settled someone, it'd be time to pick her up! What we have done for piano and whatnot is brought work with us. Her stuff is all for her main sport, and it's hard to fix any of that. But the rest I do think can be fixed or should be fixed. We honestly need more time at home.

Maybe the organization that sends their employee out should also send a list of "expectations" or something to the client?

Try not to panic. He will have to communicate with your lawyer and make his ridiculous statements to a 3rd party.

Without a restraining order on assets, I think you’re okay with what you did. I’m not a lawyer. You need a lawyer. Nobody can make you stay married to this guy. If he doesn’t cooperate, it will go in your favor and he will have zero say over anything in the divorce.

Well, you could always respond with, "getting older is a privilege denied to many." Maybe that sounds crass, but it is so true. I do not like everything about aging, but I am glad to be here, that's for sure!

Thank you both! I think I am going to seek out more help with writing. I wanted to add some classical writing, and I do have a good resource from a classical school. However, I probably just need a curriculum of that nature to keep us on pace. I've looked at Sabboth Mood, too, while searching around for Charlotte Mason-type stuff. We're currently reading "Eyes No Eyes" and he also has "Secrets of the Woods." He is enjoying the books, but he is also the type of kid who likes to still collect creatures. I cannot tell you how many aquariums he has set up now, lol. But I do know we should get more serious. Last year, we did TGTB, and I just didn't care for it. It had great information, but I hated reading from the book and sharing it with the kids as I was reading...

Thanks so much! Today has been rough. He's done two things and is avoiding us. I'm getting fed up.

I ordered a new pair of Skechers light up shoes on Ebay. I imagine they are overstock. I've bought two pairs for my daughter, which worked great. The pair I just ordered for my son has one shoe that lights up and one that doesn't. I suppose I should return them. I've tried hitting the one shoe against the floor hard. Is there anything else I should try? I looked online. I know this is a silly question. I don't see how I could take apart the shoe...

With my first, my in laws happened to come when they needed to re-insert my catheter since I couldn’t urinate after giving birth. That tends to leave a memory… lol. In all seriousness, maybe the mother feels too much pressure knowing family is there, even if they are not permitted in the birth or recovery rooms? She could offer ways to help support the family in other ways. Maybe the hospital time is just too stressful to even think about extended family. It’s nothing personal. Hopefully in due time, all will be well.

He’s very bright but resists a lot of a school work. I think he has other things on his mind, but I have a nagging feeling we’re not doing enough. I also worry I’m not able to support a whole lot more, with four full time learners. I am considering a writing program and extra history perhaps? I feel we did more school when we started homeschooling with Abeka and him in the 3rd grade way back when. I’m struggling now that life is more normal and not pandemic-y. Thank you for your suggestions!

Yes, we spend a lot of time in the car! I separated discussion and narrating because I’m thinking of narration in the CM sense. I have looked at a few writing options for him and may add it. Science is a tough one for us. I was looking for something he could do with his siblings and settled on this. We do enjoy it, but I feel we should do more. Oddly enough, history is what he enjoys most. If I add the Middle Ages and Citizenship books , maybe that will suffice? He’s very bright but would much rather go pick blades of grass outside one by one than do school.

These are so nice. Thank you for sharing!

What are your thoughts on this "class load" for a 6th grader? Math: Mr. D. Pre-Algebra ELA: Daily work in vintage speller with dictation sentences/vocabulary/etc, Evan-Moor workbook on grammar and punctuation (we did MCT last year and figured we could have a lighter load), Pentime penmanship. We have only done a few writing assignments over the last four weeks of school--very sparse. We did a retelling of a fairytale and a few written narrations from science. I plan to have him do at least 1-2 written narrations each week from various subjects. Literature: we are alternating between English Fairy Tales and Lad: A Dog. Mostly, just reading. History: Alternating days between The Story of Canada and This Country of Ours. We narrate and discuss. Stories from the Golden Children's Bible at least 3-4 times per week. Science: daily reading one or two lessons from a nature lore book. We narrate and discuss. I was going to restart Latin, but I decided I didn't like the Minimus books as our main curriculum, so that is on hold. He also is in Tae Kwon Do, so that would be his athletics. I do feel like his load is pretty light. He reads a bit on his own. We have no other output, really. And even this is a battle. I would say we're trying to read at least 20 pages per day, and I am not sure I am hitting that. I am not great as requesting narrations because it turns into me clarifying or making sure they understand what we've read. I do have a citizenship book and middle ages history books I'd love to incorporate, but I don't know how other than having him read them. I would also like to do a review after 12 weeks or so and have an exam a la Charlotte Mason.

Hugs! I only have four, and I find myself wishing I was loving this more. We are with our kids all the time basically, and that is very hard. I know it is a blessing, but I do believe sometimes we need time away from each other, too. I also think the more learners you have, the more spread thin you are---no matter how much you try to combine. I hope things get easier and you can catch a break!

I've been terrified to do this. I just cannot justify the hefty price to color my hair, so what I have done is bought a color-enhancing glass that fades after a week. But if I wanted a drastic change, I'd go to the professionals.

It's really just a weekly lesson of hers that it terrible with travel time, but she sometimes goes to practice in a gym early in the morning (it's the only way to get FREE gym space for her). She's 8, so I don't really like to leave her. I'm starting to wonder if a brick and mortar school would be best for my oldest, given this situation. But then all the other things just feel like a lot to me right now. I was thinking when my son is 13, I could possibly leave him at home (that is the law in our state), but that is a whole year away.